Albury Wodonga

Personal and professional resilience is not only about strength through adversity but the ability to grow and adapt as a result of disruption. In this way we learn to move forward stronger than before. Participants are asked to consider resilience at both a personal and strategic level and through their leadership build resilience in their teams and manage challenging situations more effectively.

10:40 - 11:00 Morning Tea

11:00 - 12:20

Panel Discussion

Where to from here?

We are progressing in terms of female representation in workplace and community leadership roles, yet high-potential women advance more slowly than their male peers in so many sectors, in terms of both career progression and pay. Individuals and organisations know, from research and intuitively, that female representation in top management can boost their performance, that everyone has a vested interest in seeing more women become top leaders, yet the progress is slow – pay parity wisewe are talking 217 years slow according to the World Economic Forum. Is there a new conversation that needs to start? What else can be/is being done to accelerate these types of statistics to reach parity, equity and equality?

Cr Anna Speedie

Mayor, Wodonga City Council

Cr Anna Speedie has been a councillor since 2005 and became Mayor for the first time in 2015. She also sits on the executive of Regional Capitals Australia alongside being the Deputy Chair of Regional Cities Victoria and a Director for Tennis Victoria Board. She is the Director for a family business that manages a small portfolio of commercial properties across Victoria. She has more than a decade of experience in private commercial and land development, business development and management.

Cr Amanda Cohn

Deputy Mayor, AlburyCity

Dr Amanda Cohn is the Deputy Mayor of AlburyCity. She is the youngest woman ever elected to Albury Council. She is current chair of the Albury-Wodonga Family and Domestic Violence Committee, a board member of Parklands Albury-Wodonga, and a​ member of the LGBTQI+ Alliance Albury-Wodonga. Amanda is a locally trained medical doctor currently working in emergency. She is also a conjoint associate lecturer at the UNSW Rural Medical School in Albury and is a field volunteer and team leader in the Albury Unit of the State Emergency Service.

Janet Chapman is the Director Regional Partnerships and Planning at Albury Wodonga Health (AWH) and an Adjunct Associate Professor at La Trobe University. Her previous roles include Regional Director for Health for Hume Region with the Department of Health and Human Services and Manager Planning for Greater Southern Area Health Service. She is passionate about supporting and developing women leaders and has recently established the Border Women in Health Network.

12:20 - 13:10

Development Session

BUILDING CAREER CHANGING CONNECTIONS AND NETWORKING STRATEGICALLY

A major factor that contributes to individual resilience is having a strong and diverse network. Numerous studies have shown the benefits of a strong network; a sense of belonging, increased self-worth and wellbeing, career progression and security. Particularly for women in male dominated workplaces, the data shows that having a network of other women has a significant impact on retention and career progression. This practical session explores the mindsets that hold us back from networking and methods for overcoming them. Participants will take away tips and strategies to build and maintain relationships - the bedrock of a strong network.

13:10 - 14:00 Lunch

14:00 - 14:50

Development Session

BE BRAVE, ADAPTIVE AND EXPERIMENTAL

Although Australia has made significant progress in the gender equity space, we all know there is a long way to go until we reach parity. The time for action is now. It is time for each and every one of us to take accountability in creating gender equity. Our aim is to empower individuals and organisations, across all industries and sectors, to make all kinds of small and large-scale change.

14:50 - 15:10 Afternoon tea

15:55 - 16:00 Review Session & Closing Comments

15:10 - 15:55

Keynote Address

Tracey Spicer AM

Reporter, Presenter and Author

Tracey Spicer is an author, journalist and television presenter who has anchored programs for ABC TV, Network Ten, Channel 9 and Sky News over the past 30 years. Renowned for the courage of her convictions, passion for social justice, and commitment to equality, she also has a wicked sense of humour. Currently, she works as a weekly columnist for Fairfax, presentation trainer for Outspoken Women and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, and media trainer at Spicer Communications. She appears regularly as a commentator on ABC TV and Channel 9. Her first book, The Good Girl Stripped Bare, was published by Harper Collins in April 2017.

08:30 - 09:00 Registration

Personal and professional resilience is not only about strength through adversity but the ability to grow and adapt as a result of disruption. In this way we learn to move forward stronger than before. Participants are asked to consider resilience at both a personal and strategic level and through their leadership build resilience in their teams and manage challenging situations more effectively.

We are progressing in terms of female representation in workplace and community leadership roles, yet high-potential women advance more slowly than their male peers in so many sectors, in terms of both career progression and pay. Individuals and organisations know, from research and intuitively, that female representation in top management can boost their performance, that everyone has a vested interest in seeing more women become top leaders, yet the progress is slow – pay parity wise we are talking 217 years slow according to the World Economic Forum. Is there a new conversation that needs to start? What else can be/is being done to accelerate these types of statistics to reach parity, equity and equality?

11:00 - 12:20

Panel Discussion

Where to from here?

Cr Anna Speedie

Mayor, Wodonga City Council

Cr Anna Speedie has been a councillor since 2005 and became Mayor for the first time in 2015. She also sits on the executive of Regional Capitals Australia alongside being the Deputy Chair of Regional Cities Victoria and a Director for Tennis Victoria Board. She is the Director for a family business that manages a small portfolio of commercial properties across Victoria. She has more than a decade of experience in private commercial and land development, business development and management.

Dr Amanda Cohn is the Deputy Mayor of AlburyCity. She is the youngest woman ever elected to Albury Council. She is current chair of the Albury-Wodonga Family and Domestic Violence Committee, a board member of Parklands Albury-Wodonga, and a​ member of the LGBTQI+ Alliance Albury-Wodonga. Amanda is a locally trained medical doctor currently working in emergency. She is also a conjoint associate lecturer at the UNSW Rural Medical School in Albury and is a field volunteer and team leader in the Albury Unit of the State Emergency Service.

Janet Chapman is the Director Regional Partnerships and Planning at Albury Wodonga Health (AWH) and an Adjunct Associate Professor at La Trobe University. Her previous roles include Regional Director for Health for Hume Region with the Department of Health and Human Services and Manager Planning for Greater Southern Area Health Service. She is passionate about supporting and developing women leaders and has recently established the Border Women in Health Network.

12:20 - 13:10

Development Session

BUILDING CAREER CHANGING CONNECTIONS AND NETWORKING STRATEGICALLY

A major factor that contributes to individual resilience is having a strong and diverse network. Numerous studies have shown the benefits of a strong network; a sense of belonging, increased self-worth and wellbeing, career progression and security. Particularly for women in male dominated workplaces, the data shows that having a network of other women has a significant impact on retention and career progression. This practical session explores the mindsets that hold us back from networking and methods for overcoming them. Participants will take away tips and strategies to build and maintain relationships - the bedrock of a strong network.

Although Australia has made significant progress in the gender equity space, we all know there is a long way to go until we reach parity. The time for action is now. It is time for each and every one of us to take accountability in creating gender equity. Our aim is to empower individuals and organisations, across all industries and sectors, to make all kinds of small and large-scale change.

14:00 - 14:50

Development Session

BE BRAVE, ADAPTIVE AND EXPERIMENTAL

Tracey Spicer is an author, journalist and television presenter who has anchored programs for ABC TV, Network Ten, Channel 9 and Sky News over the past 30 years. Renowned for the courage of her convictions, passion for social justice, and commitment to equality, she also has a wicked sense of humour. Currently, she works as a weekly columnist for Fairfax, presentation trainer for Outspoken Women and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, and media trainer at Spicer Communications. She appears regularly as a commentator on ABC TV and Channel 9. Her first book, The Good Girl Stripped Bare, was published by Harper Collins in April 2017.

15:10 - 15:55

Keynote Address

Tracey Spicer AM

Reporter, Presenter and Author

09:00 - 09:20 Opening COmments

15:55 - 16:00 Review & Closing Comments

16:00 - 16:30 Networking Drinks

Superintendent Elizabeth Docksey APM (retired) joined the NSW Police Force in 1982. Beth joined the Albury Police Station in 2011 where she was promoted to Superintendent and appointed as Commander, Albury Local Command. Beth’s honours and awards include the Australian Police Medal; the National Police Service Medal; and the presentation of the Message Stick from Uncle Tunny on behalf The Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Elders in NAIDOC Week 2015. Beth retired in 2017 and is now the Secretary, Murray River Branch, NSW Retired Police Association.

Superintendent Elizabeth Docksey APM (retired) joined the NSW Police Force in 1982. Beth joined the Albury Police Station in 2011 where she was promoted to Superintendent and appointed as Commander, Albury Local Command. Beth’s honours and awards include the Australian Police Medal; the National Police Service Medal; and the presentation of the Message Stick from Uncle Tunny on behalf The Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Elders in NAIDOC Week 2015. Beth retired in 2017 and is now the Secretary, Murray River Branch, NSW Retired Police Association.

Event Overview

The Australian Women’s Leadership Forum is for women who are looking for increased awareness of their leadership style and competencies, as well as practical strategies to help them overcome challenges within their work and personal life. The program also provides a relaxed and supportive environment to connect and collaborate with other female leaders.

The content and flow of the program is carefully designed to immerse participants in the subject matter and create valuable insights informed by collective experience. During the program, a number of key themes are explored via a combination of expert presentations, collaborative discussion, experiential activities and personal reflection.

Judith Ahmat

Managing Director, Watnanda Consulting

Judith is a proud Gunditjmara woman who has lived and worked in the North East of Victoria for the past 27 years. She has been actively been involved in the Wodonga Aboriginal Community where she was one of the co-founders of Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation (MAC), and has served on the MAC Board and Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Services Board on a few occasions. In 2015, Judith was inducted into the Victorian Aboriginal Honour roll for the contribution she has made to ensuring there is access and equity to education, community and health services that meet the needs of Aboriginal people. Judith has worked in the health, mental health and community sector organisations, however currently she is the co-founder and director of Watnanda Consulting which she started in 2016.

Judith Ahmat

Managing Director, Watnanda Consulting

Judith is a proud Gunditjmara woman who has lived and worked in the North East of Victoria for the past 27 years. She has been actively been involved in the Wodonga Aboriginal Community where she was one of the co-founders of Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation (MAC), and has served on the MAC Board and Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Services Board on a few occasions. In 2015, Judith was inducted into the Victorian Aboriginal Honour roll for the contribution she has made to ensuring there is access and equity to education, community and health services that meet the needs of Aboriginal people. Judith has worked in the health, mental health and community sector organisations, however currently she is the co-founder and director of Watnanda Consulting which she started in 2016.

Airlie Trescowthick

Founder, The Farm Table

Airlie is the Founder and Managing Director of the Farm Table and Farmer Exchange, an online ecosystem that aims to reduce complexity online and connect Australian agriculture in a new and innovative way. The Farmer Exchange was recently named a Top Ten Finalist in the Regional Australia Institute’s Lightbulb Moments competition. Airlie was recently a member of Industry Advisory Group for the Government’s Farm Cooperatives and Collaboration Pilot Program. She was also named a 2016 “Tomorrow Maker” by the AMP Foundation, a 2015 RAS NSW Rural Young Achiever and 2015 Woolworths Agribusiness Scholar. She is currently living with her fiancé, Hugh, on his mixed farming enterprise in Deniliquin, NSW.

Airlie Trescowthick

Founder, The Farm Table

Airlie is the Founder and Managing Director of the Farm Table and Farmer Exchange, an online ecosystem that aims to reduce complexity online and connect Australian agriculture in a new and innovative way. The Farmer Exchange was recently named a Top Ten Finalist in the Regional Australia Institute’s Lightbulb Moments competition. Airlie was recently a member of Industry Advisory Group for the Government’s Farm Cooperatives and Collaboration Pilot Program. She was also named a 2016 “Tomorrow Maker” by the AMP Foundation, a 2015 RAS NSW Rural Young Achiever and 2015 Woolworths Agribusiness Scholar. She is currently living with her fiancé, Hugh, on his mixed farming enterprise in Deniliquin, NSW.